The Best Restaurants In Roseville, Minnesota

A short drive just north of the Twin Cities will land you in the middle of Roseville, Minnesota, and in the heart of several major retail centers. Here’s our list of the city’s best restaurants, with plenty of ethnic offerings.

Chianti Grill

Restaurant, Italian, $$$

Chianti Grill stands out for executing innovative combinations of hearty flavors in every single one of its classic Italian dishes. Though the restaurant specializes in steak and seafood entrees, you won’t be disappointed by the Pork Maque Choux, an award-winning dish featuring pork medallions wrapped in bacon served on a bed of roasted corn Maque Choux and topped with a spiced sherry cream sauce. Reservations are highly recommended.

China Restaurant

Restaurant, Chinese

Though its name seems generic, China Restaurant‘s succulent Asian fare is the opposite of run-of-the-mill. Enjoy dishes such as the roasted pork fried rice, sesame shrimp, cheese wontons, curry tofu, chicken with almonds and black pepper steak. The consistently delicious fare tends to attract both local professionals on their lunch breaks as well as students from the nearby University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. This is not just because of its taste but because of its price, too—less than $10 will get you an entree of massive proportions.

Digby’s

At Digby’s, everything from their sausages and pickled peppers to their delicious pizza dough is made in-house by the kitchen staff, so you never have to question how fresh your meal is. Complement a pint of locally brewed beer with lamb gyro sliders, a buffalo chicken pizza, a bison blue cheese burger with a side of fries, or even a bacon donuts sundae.

Good Earth

Restaurant, American, $$$

Good Earth changes its menu changes ‘in harmony with the seasons’ and highlights ingredients produced using organic, sustainable farming methods. You can therefore be sure you’re not only consuming food that’s good for you but also good for the environment. Some of our favorite picks from Good Earth’s globally inspired menu are the free-range teriyaki chicken, butternut squash gnocchi, Good Earth vegetarian enchiladas, and the almond tuna salad sandwich.

Maverick’s

Maverick’s has elevated the simple concept of roast beef to a divine level: don’t let its nondescript location in a strip mall fool you. Order at the counter then find a seat within the Western-themed dining room that’s decked out with mounted deer heads, lassos, brass cowbells and rustic lighting. See if you can determine the best part about Maverick’s sandwiches – is it the tender, pink meat, or the fresh, locally made buns on which it’s served? For something different try the spicy Jamaican jerk beef sandwich, French dip sandwich, brisket dinner or turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce.

Ol’ Mexico Restaurante & Cantina

Ol’ Mexico Restaurante & Cantina is a decades-old Roseville institution constantly finding ways to put inventive twists on Mexican favorites. Start off the night with one of its perfectly tart margaritas and an order of Southwestern egg rolls, then select from entrees like the shredded beef chimichangas, devilishly spicy diablo shrimp tacos, or light, flaky grilled tilapia with jumbo shrimp. When you finish your meal, kick off your night right: head over to the dance floor for fast-paced salsa-ing, join in with some Bingo or enjoy improv comedy if you’re there on Tuesday or Saturday nights.

St. Paul Bagelry & Deli

Deli, American

Most people associate the country’s best bagels with New York but Roseville’s favorite local bagel spot, St. Paul Bagelry & Deli, makes Minnesota an equal contender. Smoothies and Hawaiian coffees and teas are also available for purchase, along with a bountiful selection of scones, cookies and bars. While the bagels are available at several local retailers, they are best enjoyed within the cozy bagelry itself. A collection of vintage vinyl records plays on a turntable in the background.

Szechuan

The name of Szechuan itself—which refers to a cooking technique from southeast China that produces sweet, hot, spicy, bitter, sour, aromatic and pungent flavor profiles—hints at what awaits here. Garlic, chili peppers and the ‘tongue-numbing Szechuan ‘flower pepper” are motifs you can expect throughout its menu, especially in dishes such as the tea-smoked duck with spring ginger, Ma La You Huo boiled fish with pickled mustard greens, and fish filet with bean curd flower. For those who are less spice-inclined, there are also milder dishes like sesame chicken, stir-fried asparagus, lamb with scallions and pineapple fried rice. If you’re an adventurous eater seeking something a bit out of the ordinary, you’re in luck – frog, pork intestine and blended jellyfish are all available.

Willow Gate II

Willow Gate II Chinese restaurant has been in the Tan family ever since it opened in 1983. Hunan and Szechuan dishes have remained its specialties since then, though Thai recipes also now feature. The family has done a superb job of retaining the Willow Gate II’s fare’s authenticity for over three decades, from its decor—including a scaled-down replica of the Great Wall of China at the front entrance—to its dishes. Enjoy the emerald curry, mushroom chow mein, Tom Yum lemongrass soup, or walleye filet with black bean sauce for either lunch or dinner.